Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 1.djvu/435

 but his  slayer  might  not  live  in  full  health,

because that  both  his  eyes  burst  out  of  him,

and fell  to  the  earth  with  Alban's  head,

that he  might  understand  whom  he  had  killed.

They beheaded  afterward  the  faithful  soldier

who would  not  behead  the  holy  man,

and he  lay  beside  Alban,  believing  in  God,

baptized with  his  blood,  and  departed  to  Heaven.

Afterward, when  the  executioners  came  to  their  lord,

and related  the  wonderful  signs  which  Alban  had  wrought,

and how  he  was  blinded  who  had  beheaded  him,

then he  bade  them  stay  the  persecution,  and  spake  reverently

of the  holy  martyrs,  whom  he  could  not  turn

from God's  faith  by  the  terrible  torments.

In that  same  persecution  were  [also]  slain

Aaron and  Julius,  and  many  others,

both of  men  and  women,  widely  throughout  England,

killed by  tortures  for  Christ's  faith,

and they  departed  victoriously  to  the  true  life.

Then the  persecution  ceased,  and  the  Christians  came

out of  the  woods,  and  out  of  the  wastes,  where  they  had  been  hidden,

and went  amongst  men,  and  restored  Christianity,

and repaired  churches  that  were  wholly  ruined,

and dwelt  there  in  peace  with  true  faith.

Then they  built  likewise  a  worthy  church

to the  holy  Alban,  where  he  was  buried,

and there  frequently  were  miracles  performed

to the  praise  of  the  Saviour  who  liveth  ever  in  eternity.

This was  done  before  that  strife  came

through Hengest  and  Horsa  who  defeated  the  Britons,

and Christianity  was  again  dishonoured,

until Augustine  re-established  it,